Teeth Grinding

Bruxism is the medical term for grinding, gnashing or clenching your teeth which affects children as well as adults. Young children who grind their teeth usually do so during the day and night, says Barbara Rich, national spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry and a dentist in Cherry Hill, N.J. But you may notice nighttime grinding more because your child clenches his teeth much harder when he's asleep than he does when he's awake, and thus makes a lot more noise. Tooth grinding in adults is usually a stress-related habit, much like nail biting. In young children, though, it seems to have more to do with simply getting used to the new physical sensation of having teeth.

Some signs to watch for:

  • grinding noises when your child is sleeping
  • complaining of a sore jaw or face in the morning
  • thumb sucking
  • fingernail biting
  • gnawing on pencils and toys
  • chewing the inside of the cheek

If you think your child is grinding his or her teeth, visit your child's dentist, who will examine your child's teeth for chipped enamel and unusual damage. In cases where the grinding and clenching make your child's face and jaw sore, or the teeth are being damaged, dentists may prescribe a special night guard.

Most kids stop grinding when they lose their baby teeth because permanent teeth are much more sensitive to pain. If bruxism is caused by stress, it will continue until the stress is relieved. Because some bruxism is a child's natural reaction to growth and development, most cases can't be prevented. Stress-induced bruxism can be avoided, however, by talking with kids regularly about their feelings and helping them deal with stresses in their life. Click here for additional tips from KidsHealth.Org.

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